ABOUT 
HISTORY
BOARD OF
GOVERNORS
PAST
PRESIDENTS
EVENTS CALENDAR
CONTACT
INFORMATION
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| THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS - OFFICERS |
Name |
Email |
Board Title
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Phone
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Curtis Smolar
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President
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415.972.6308
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Curtin Smolar is a partner at Ropers, Majeski, Kohn, and Bentley. His practice includes complex civil litigation, commercial litigation, real estate litigation, employment litigation, and securities litigation. He has handled cases involving contract disputes, securities, real estate, business torts, entertainment, licensing, intellectual property, mold and other toxic substances, Business and Professions Code Section 17200, California's Proposition 64, contractual interpretation, unfair competition, unlawful detainer, SLAPP, and arbitrations.
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Philip J. Kearney
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President-Elect
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415.436.6758
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Philip J. Kearney serves as assistant United States attorney. He's a former San Francisco Assistant District Attorney and was chosen by the United Nations to serve as the sole international prosecutor assigned to administer a region of 800,000 people in Kosovo. He is also the author of Under the Blue Flag: My Mission to Kosovo.
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Heidi Hudson
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Treasurer
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510.569.0447
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Heidi Hudson focuses her practice areas on criminal defense and family law. She actively participates in community projects in the East Bay including volunteering her time on pro bono projects with Alameda County Bar Association's Volunteer Legal Services Corporation.
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Mary Catherine Wiederhold
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Secretary
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415.533.0735
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Mary Catherine Wiederhold is a San Francisco based real estate law practice which specializes in providing full legal representation and counseling in matters involving construction defect, home ownership, property development, landlord-tenant, nuisance and title and escrow disputes. Her practice is dedicated to providing affordable, aggressive and personalized legal advice and representation to all Clients of any background or scope. |
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e. Robert Wallach
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Immediate Past President
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415.989.6445
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Bob Wallach has been practicing law since 1959. In 2006, he was inducted into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame. Bob counseled former Attorney General Edwin Meese; was the U.S. Representative to the United Nations Commission On Human Rights; former President of the Bar Association of San Francisco; former dean of Hastings Center for Trial and Appellate Advocacy and adjunct professor; a former partner with Walkup Downing Wallach and Sterns.
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| THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS - MEMBERS |
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Name
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Email |
Board Title
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Phone
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Robert H. Bunzel
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Board of Directors
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415.956.1900
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Rob Bunzel is a principal at Bartko, Zankel, Tarrant & Miller where he represents both plaintiffs and defendants in civil, criminal, or regulatory matters such as venture finance, business and shareholder disputes, enviromental and employment law matters, and professional malpractice.
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Mark Burton |
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Board of Directors |
415.441.5544 |
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Mark Burton is a partner at Hersh & Hersh. He has managed, prepared, and handled a diverse group of personal injury matters, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, motor vehicle collisions, and medical malpractice. He is currently focused on mass tort litigation such as Zyprexa and Vioxx and medical devices such as the Ancure endograft system. He also serves on Golden Gate University's Board of Trustees.
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Tony David |
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Board of Directors |
415.498.0000 |
Tony David is a member of both the California and Hawaii bars. His practice areas include General Civil Trial and Appellate Practice encompassing Personal Injury, Insurance Bad Faith, Commercial Litigation, Tort Litigation, Premises Liability, Medical Malpractice, Insurance Law, Elder Law, Investments, Consumer Law and Products Liability. Order of the Coif. Author: "The Western Hemisphere Trade Corporation: The Bountiful Tax Accident," 10 Harvard International Law Journal 101, 1969. Instructor, Business Law, College of Marin, 1976-1984. Law Clerk for the Honorable Bernard Levinson, Hawaii Supreme Court, 1968-1969.
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Richard S. Diestel
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Board of Directors
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415.981.5411
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Richard Diestel is a partner at Bledsoe, Cathcart, Diestel, Pedersen & Treppa, LLP. His practice includes complex personal injury and business litigation, including unfair competition, employment litigation, products liability, construction law, and environmental torts. Richard has over ten years of service as an arbitrator with the California Superior Court. He is a charter member of American Inn of Court, a national organization that promotes legal excellence, civility, professionalism and ethics. He is A-V rated and is a frequent lecturer on civil litigation at law schools and Bar Associations.
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Tom Fazioli
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Board of Directors
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630.373.0088
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Tom Fazioli is a seasoned trial attorney, author and lecturer specializing in personal injury matters. He is a member of the Illinois bar where he obtained several record high jury verdicts in medical malpractice, transportation (bus/truck/train) and wrongful death cases in the Chicago and St. Louis areas. He was inducted into the American Board of Trial Attorneys, taught trial advocacy courses at IIT/Chicago Kent College of Law and was a prolific writer and lecturer for the Illinois Institute CLE, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and Chicago Bar Association on trial motions, medical malpractice, reconstruction experts, railroad crossing and insurance coverage issues. He is a United States Marine Corps Vietnam veteran. He currently is an author for Mathew Bender & Company (Lexis/Nexis) and free-lance writer for several web-site based companies on federal trial practice, wrongful death actions and transportation accidents.
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| Peter Keane |
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Board of Directors
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415.581.8833 |
Peter Keane is a Certified Criminal Law Specialist. He is a Professor of Law and Dean Emeritus at Golden Gate University Law School. He has taught at UC Hastings, Golden Gate University, and University of San Francisco law schools. He is former President of the Bar Association of San Francisco; former Vice-President of the State Bar of California; former SF Police Commissioner; former SF Chief Assistant Public Defender; former Chairperson of both the Criminal Justice Advisory Commission of the State Bar of California and BASF's Criminal Law Advisory Council.
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Johnson Hor |
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Board of Directors |
415.554.1100 |
Johnson Hor works at Walden House and Internet Securities. He is an American Bar Foundation Life Fellow, Coro Community Fellow, SF Deputy Marriage Commissioner, on several boards and cmtes - including the Art Endowment, Inspire to Do, and the SF Dept. of Public Health Cultural Competency Task Force Member. He is also a member of the US Supreme Court bar.
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Wesley Lowe
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Board of Directors
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415.733.1053
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Wesley Lowe is a partner in Mannion & Lowe. At Mannion & Lowe, their commitment to enforcing plaintiff?s rights against insurance companies. They regularly participate in professional and community organizations, local, statewide, and national. They have done significant work with the United Policyholders Organization, filing amicus briefs, educating consumers and insurance professionals, and helping to shape insurance law and policy.
www.mannion-lowe.com
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Daven Lowhurst
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Board of Directors
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415.369.7270
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Daven Lowhurst is a partner at Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP in San Francisco. He has a broad civil trial and appellate practice, as well as extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution. He focuses on commercial, construction, real estate, products liability, and insurance disputes. He has handled numerous appeals, including several published decisions in favor of his Fortune 100 and 500 clients.
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Gerry Mannion
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Board of Directors
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415.995.5085
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Gerry Mannion is a partner in Mannion & Lowe. Mannion & Lowe are commited to enforcing plaintiff?s rights against insurance companies. They regularly participate in professional and community organizations, local, statewide, and national. They have done significant work with the United Policyholders Organization, filing amicus briefs, educating consumers and insurance professionals, and helping to shape insurance law and policy.
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Michael B. McNaughton
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Board of Directors
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415.995.5085
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Michael B. McNaughton is a partner at Hanson Bridgett. He is an experienced trial attorney who has effectively litigated cases involving a broad range of commercial matters including: contract actions, corporate governance disputes, complex antitrust litigation, unfair business practice claims, healthcare litigation, eminent domain, real estate litigation, and probate and trust litigation. He is also an accomplished negotiator with extensive mediation experience.
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| Kelly Robbins |
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Board of Directors
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415.788.5400 |
Kelly Robbins has practiced law in San Francisco since 1991, making her start in civil litigation to gain valuable trial and courtroom experience. For the past 10 years her sole focus has been matters of family and divorce law in the San Francisco Bay Area, with an emphasis on high-asset property division, support and custody. Kelly is also a certified California Family Law Specialist.
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Jae S. Yi
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Board of Directors
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415.781.7900
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Jae is a shareholder at Bartko, Zankel, Tarrant & Miller. She represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of cases, including consumer and securities fraud class actions, and disputes involving business torts, contracts and real estate. Jae was part of the litigation team that represented the class of defrauded investors in the PinnFund Ponzi scheme and secured over a $60 million settlement against professional institutions.
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| THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS - PAST PRESIDENTS |
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Name
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Email |
Board Title
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Phone
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Robert Cross
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Past President
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415.392.1960
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Robert Cross is a partner at Sideman & Bancroft LLP. He concentrates his practice on real estate and business transactions, business bankruptcy and civil litigation. His transactional practice focuses on commercial real estate leasing and sales, and consultation with privately-owned business entities involving formation, contracting and licensing. He has over 30 years' experience in the litigation of business disputes.
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Patrick Ryan
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Past President
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415.591.6817
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| Patrick Ryan is a litigation partner at Winston & Strawn's. He focuses his practice on a cross-section of complex commercial, class action, white-collar, and constitutional matters. He represents clients from industries as diverse as software, health care, biotech, manufacturing, and real estate. He has significant federal and state courtroom experience, both bench and jury trials, and extensive law-and-motion background, and appearances in both federal and state appellate courts.
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Patrice Truman
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Past President
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510.528.4655
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Patrice Truman is a jury and trial consultant serving both plaintiff and defense attorneys in both the civil and criminal arenas. Her firm, Truman & Associates, is in Berkeley California. Her work involves all aspects of pretrial and post trial jury research. Member: State Bar of California, and the American Society of Trial Consultants.
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Stephen B. Ruben
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Past President
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415.399.6830
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Stephen Ruben has been practicing family law for over twenty six years and is managing director and principal of The Ruben Law Firm, P.C. of San Francisco. He frequently lectures on cutting edge family law issues. Steve leads the Lawyers' Club of San Francisco's Scholarship Fund Foundation. |
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Honorable Alicia D. Becerril
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Past President
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415.357.3801
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Alicia D. Becerril is an Administrative Law Judge with the State of California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board where she conducts hearings and prepares decisions on the appeals of unemployment insurance benefit and disability insurance benefit cases. Prior to taking this position, Commissioner Becerril served as the Board's Assistant Chief Counsel. Alicia also serves on San Francisco's Civil Service Commissions as Vice Chair.
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Charles S. Birenbaum
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Past President |
415.591.1403 |
Charles Birenbaum is a labor and employment relations partner and managing partner of Winston & Strawn's San Francisco office. He has experience in administrative, judicial, and arbitration litigation, collective bargaining, and NLRB practice, and advises employers on labor matters related to mergers, acquisitions, sales, reorganizations, consolidations, outsourcing, temporary employment, subcontracting, and project development.
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Micheal A. Duncheon |
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Past President |
415.995.5015
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Michael Duncheon is a partner at Hanson Bridgett. He specializes in antitrust, intellectual property and other complex business litigation. He has litigated numerous cases for both plaintiffs and defendants involving alleged antitrust violations, unfair competition, violations of the state unfair trade practices act, intellectual property, and tortious interference with contract and prospective economic advantage. Michael is also experienced in class action litigation. He serves as general and special counsel to a number of health care entities and trade associations.
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Scott L. Gardner
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Past President |
415.865.7545 |
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Donald J. Putterman
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Past President |
415.655.4322 |
Donald Putterman is a partner at Kasowitz Benson Torres & Friedman LLP. He concentrates his practice on complex, high profile civil litigation requiring discovery, analysis, and presentation of complicated factual and legal issues. His cases typically are in the areas of business torts, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty, partnership and corporate governance, unfair competition, trade secrets, breach of contract, real estate, attorney and accounting malpractice, and defamation. Don is an experienced trial, arbitration and appellate advocate, appearing on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants in all California state and federal courts.
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